English Translations of Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Sharon wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Wolf Winter is on the way. Now to look for Burial Rites!

I too started with Indridason's Jar City(Nordic Crime) and have never looked back.

Interesting note; My good friend just..."
I have to agree with you Sharon. Many mediocre books riding Scandinavian craze. I am now doing more research. Reading a great one now which is set in FranceThe Lying-Down Room It came highly recommended by crime pieces. I am loving it and have already ordered he next book.

Just starting "The Last Lullaby" by Carin Gerhardsen.

Liked the first two books alot!

Just finished The Lying-Down Room It does live up to all the hype. Set in France. Writing reminded me very much of Indridason. Next will be The Man Who Watched Women A Scandi novel. Not so obsessed with Nordic novels now. Well at least I am branching out. All started with Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy Bundle: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest It's been a good experience and an education.

Helen wrote: "Just finished The Lying-Down Room It does live up to all the hype. Set in France. Writing reminded me very much of Indridason. Next will be [book:The Man Who Watched Women|24909862..."

Glad you liked my translations of Stieg Larsson! Try FACELESS KILLERS and SIDETRACKED by Henning Mankell.

Steve aka Reg

Steven T. wrote: "Helen wrote: "Just finished The Lying-Down Room It does live up to all the hype. Set in France. Writing reminded me very much of Indridason. Next will be [book:The Man Who Watched ..."Read them. Loved them. But now time to move on.

Helen wrote: "Steven T. wrote: "Helen wrote: "Just finished The Lying-Down Room It does live up to all the hype. Set in France. Writing reminded me very much of Indridason. Next will be [book:Th..."

OK then, try a German one: SNOW WHITE MUST DIE by Nele Neuhaus.

Steven T. wrote: "Helen wrote: "Steven T. wrote: "Helen wrote: "Just finished The Lying-Down Room It does live up to all the hype. Set in France. Writing reminded me very much of Indridason. Next wi..." Well I read Michael Hjorth "Dark Secrets" which I enjoyed. I then read The disciple which I also enjoyed. A real Scandi thriller. I was so looking forward to The Man Who Watched Women and lo it is the same as The disciple reinvented. The book has two names. This Snow White must die. I shall get on the trail. I gather it is no fairy tale.

Ice Queen and Bad Wolf are also really good books by Nele Neuhaus. I enjoyed all three of them.

Just finished listening to Burial Rites by Kent and found it really outstanding.

Mary wrote: "Just finished listening to Burial Rites by Kent and found it really outstanding."

Agree. Quite an excellent first book wasn't it?

I also listened to Burial Rites this year. Excellent book.

I just finished Carin Gerhardsen's book Cinderella girl and Peter James says it all on the cover "Gerjhardsen's writing grips your heart and soul in an ever-tightening tourniquet". It sure does, you want to read on because they solved the murders but everything else is left hanging. I know the next book is already pre-ordered on my Kindle.

Sharon, you are right . Terrific first book. Actually exceptional.

Readiing Carin Gerhardsen's "The Last Lullaby".Just as great as her first two. Hits you right in the face in the first two pages.

Never read any of Carin Gerhardsen's books however, I shall get on the trail. Downloaded "Bitter Chill" today. It has excellent reviews.

How many other books has Gerhardsen written? Availablity in the U.S. or have to go to England?

She has written 3 books which have been translated so far. I'm presently reading the last called The Last Lullaby.

Boo on that! I have just finished The Last Lullaby and that makes 3 books of hers that I have read..

Thanks Kenneth

She has written 9 books so far and the first 3 are translated.

Well I am reading Christopher Bollen Orient . This book is set in Upper Manhatton. It is a murder mystery but a long drawn out one. About 640 pages. I am enjoying it now. It is about this town called Orient. The scenery is beautifully represented and characters well drawn. My next book is Indridision's new one released on the 9th in Australia.

Kenneth wrote: "She has written 9 books so far and the first 3 are translated."

So I have alot to look forward too.

Elizabeth wrote: "Kenneth wrote: "She has written 9 books so far and the first 3 are translated."

So I have alot to look forward too."

Yes, we all do.

Well I'm done reading The Last Lullaby and seems that I'm reading supper fast now every time I look at the book it goes down an hour. I recommend this series to everyone because Carin has made all her characters into human beings with all their faults. Can't wait for her next book to be translated.

Just finished Burial Rites. Had to find it after all the chatter about how amazing it is, and this book will stay with me for a long time. Superb and haunting.

I also finished Burial Rites. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Couldn't put it down but was disturbing.

Susan wrote: "I also finished Burial Rites. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Couldn't put it down but was disturbing."

I posted some articles about it at the time it was trending....even more thought provoking the research this young writer did to write the book and that it was from the last real event of its kind....she won quite a few awards with it. Good writing IMO.

Sharon. I've just been reading about Hannah Kent and her time in Iceland and how the story came about. Fascinating that a young woman from Australia would write such a novel.

Angela wrote: "Sharon. I've just been reading about Hannah Kent and her time in Iceland and how the story came about. Fascinating that a young woman from Australia would write such a novel."

Yes, it certainly is. I would have missed the book had a former colleague now living in Oz out walking her dog, meeting the author, had not told me about it. Curious what she will write next. Also a very disturbing slice of history in Iceland. What women had endured through the ages!
IMHO Hannah Kent deserved the praise for the book.

Sharon wrote: "Angela wrote: "Sharon. I've just been reading about Hannah Kent and her time in Iceland and how the story came about. Fascinating that a young woman from Australia would write such a novel."

Yes, ..."

I read that they are making a film of the book with Jennifer Lawrence as Agnes... Not sure about that!

Angela wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Angela wrote: "Sharon. I've just been reading about Hannah Kent and her time in Iceland and how the story came about. Fascinating that a young woman from Australia would write such a..."

Time will tell....interesting!

that would be spectacular! I hope her success will ensure another book.

scanoir.co.uk
4 hrs ·
http://www.crimefictionlover.com/…/in... ''I think Nordic noir is the big thing now, it has been for some years, and I think it’s because these are good books. They come from a very good tradition in Scandinavian crime novels beginning with Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo in Sweden. It’s been a long evolution and it’s just blossomed now in the past years with Steig Larsson. I think because it’s rooted in Scandinavian storytelling – not just in crime stories, but in the Scandinvavian storytelling tradition – it will have ongoing popularity. This isn’t something out of the blue at all, this is rooted in very good crime stories from Scandinavia''. Wise words from Arnaldur Indridason..

I agree. they are not jut detective, crime stories, they are about the characters and lives involved.

Trying to get to "When The Doves Disappeared". Book group books keep getting in the way.

Has anyone read it? Love to hear comments? Purge was very heavy and meaningful. It is true with this book?

Elizabeth wrote: "Trying to get to "When The Doves Disappeared". Book group books keep getting in the way.

Has anyone read it? Love to hear comments? Purge was very heavy and meaningful. It is true with this book?"

Author?

Sofi Oksanen wrote both "Purge" and "When the Doves Disappeared".

Just finished reading Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus. Started out a little slow...but I think that was to set all the characters in place. I really like this author.I shall go on to read more of her books as they get translated. Unfortunately they are not being translated in order.

I've just finished Room NO 10 by Ake Edwardson, and found it rather tedious in parts. I got so bogged down with working out which time period we were in ( now or 18 years ago) and never got an explanation about Why the murder did various things. Does anyone have comments about other books by this author?

Angela wrote: "I've just finished Room NO 10 by Ake Edwardson..."

This is book 7 in the series and appears to be the most recently translated into English. My comments on the series so far:

Book 1. 2.5 Stars.

This book had too many flaws for me to really enjoy it. The translator has unnecessarily appended "street" on to the names of roads in Gothenburg. The author while something of an expert on locations in London is vague about British police ranks and apparently unaware that detectives there rarely carry firearms.

As to the story itself, I was unable to feel much empathy for any of the characters and didn't think the motive for why these particular crimes were committed was explained.

Book 2. 3 Stars.
I thought the translation of this book was better than the first one. However, the story tends to drag and the conclusion wasn't very clear. I can't help wondering if the author actually knows much about the police. He very rarely mentions police ranks which are generally important in a para-military organization.

Book 3. 3 Stars.
I continue to be disappointed with this series and it can't be blamed on the translation. The author skips around between characters and settings frequently and often starts paragraphs without any clear references to who it is about. I prefer clearer, more straight forward writing. Also this book ends abruptly without any explanation or resolution of many of the clues or events which occurred.

I am currently reading book 4. and it is moving slowly. The author continues his practice of having too many female characters whose names start with "A" which began in the last book.

Gary wrote: "Angela wrote: "I've just finished Room NO 10 by Ake Edwardson..."

This is book 7 in the series and appears to be the most recently translated into English. My comments on the series so far:

Book ..."
Thanks Gary I might skip this author altogether.. I hate to be annoyed when I'm reading.!!

Personally never have read this book series but very much enjoyed the filmed series of Winter....

Sharon wrote: "Personally never have read this book series but very much enjoyed the filmed series of Winter...."

Damn - another TV series we don't get! I'm going to have to shift!

Angela wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Personally never have read this book series but very much enjoyed the filmed series of Winter...."

Damn - another TV series we don't get! I'm going to have to shift!"

Try Netflix.....we love it. Also good the Danish Dicte and The Legacy and RITA....currently Witnesses.....
Many of the book series are made into excellent IMO series over the last couple of decades.
Currently some awesome French series too! Spirals and Falco are two really gritty, good series.
Friends of mine in Canada also get box sets of these at their local library.
Then there is Amazon....

Sharon wrote: "Angela wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Personally never have read this book series but very much enjoyed the filmed series of Winter...."

Damn - another TV series we don't get! I'm going to have to shift!"..."

Netflix has just arrived in Australia for something like $9 a month. I might have to investigate this!! Great idea. Thanks

Angela wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Angela wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Personally never have read this book series but very much enjoyed the filmed series of Winter...."

Damn - another TV series we don't get! I'm going to ..."

Angela, when it finally arrived in the Netherlands I jumped on first moment as had heard about it through GRs and various media for ages. Still pay the low price and we really are happy with it. Each country gets a different selection and occasionally I will hear of something that's not first coming up in a search. But I've found that searching on my iPad very efficient way to get more content then trick is to save to your list! Once you want to watch, it pops up on your list whether on TV, iPad, iPhone or PC! One email account and we can watch anywhere on wifi. So while in UK or France or away from home anywhere on wifi I can watch Netflix. Love it! Way of the future.
In fact just bitching to USA CBS on FB as they still don't release the box set of series six The Good Wife yet are making seven, on amazon but now see big huge American commercial networks starting a pay view system ....IMHO panicky over the success of netflix and amazon prime and current international preference to binge watch ....

Gary, re Ake Edwardson series: Thank you so much for your reviews. They have given me reinforcement for my own views, as well as guidance on choosing a book. Keep up the good work!

"When the Doves Disappeared" is absolutely brilliant but is a very emotional heartbreaking book. I have Estonian relatives which makes it even more meaningful.

Please anyone else who has read it tell me what you think?

have any of you read Elsebeth Egholm - a danish crimewritter? I'm reading her latest there called Deadweight - it's coming out in Denmark 1. of august 2015 :)

I've read the first book, Three Dog Night. I have the her second book, Dead Souls, but have not gotten around to reading it as yet. I really enjoyed Three Dog Night. I'm glad to hear that there is another one coming out. Thanks for the update. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

I read her book Three Dog Night about two months ago. Really enjoyed it. I immediately began Dead Souls. I was not disappointed. glad someone else has enjoyed her work. Love the characters especially the female diver. Also love her descriptions of the snow, the sleet, the rain and the cold. Brrr rr rr